- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Columbia, MD
Wilde Lake High
Federal NCES profile for Wilde Lake High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 240042000762
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wilde Lake High earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 80% of Maryland schools.
- #3 of 5
- high schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.2:1
- small classes for Maryland
- 41.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Wilde Lake High has class sizes smaller than 80% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wilde Lake High ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Columbia, MD.
School address
District: Howard County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240042000762 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-71 students YoY
Wilde Lake High shrank from 1,341 students in 2022-23 to 1,270 in 2023-24 (-5.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 98.4 → 97.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-71 students YoY 240042000762 · Columbia, MD High · MID · TRAD
1,197 enr · 12.2:1 · 41.5% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students)
Wilde Lake High shrank from 1,341 students in 2022-23 to 1,270 in 2023-24 (-5.3%). Teacher FTE lost 98.4 → 97.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Wilde Lake High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Marriotts Ridg
Marriotts Ridge High
1,741 students
- Reservoir High
Reservoir High
1,597 students
- Atholton High
Atholton High
1,540 students
- Howard High
Howard High
1,493 students
- Mount Hebron H
Mount Hebron High
1,455 students
- This school
Wilde Lake High
1,197 students
What this shows Wilde Lake High reports 1,197 students on the CCD universe file.
How Wilde Lake High compares
Wilde Lake High is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.2:1 | ▼ 16% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.5% | ▼ 15% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,197 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.2:1
Leaner classes than 74% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
1,197
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
41.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.2:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 20% in Maryland - lower ratio than 80% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
47.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$19,256
per pupil, district-wide
- above Maryland avg of $18,753
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 239 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 85 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 44.8%
White 22.1%
Hispanic or Latino 17.4%
Two or More 8.5%
Asian 6.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 44.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.9, Wilde Lake High is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 27
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Howard County Public Schools reports $19,256 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Wilde Lake High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriotts Ridge High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Reservoir High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Atholton High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Howard High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mount Hebron High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wilde Lake High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,597
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,540
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,493
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,455
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar high schools in Columbia
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Atholton High
Standard public school
1,540 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Oakland Mills High
Standard public school
1,413 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Long Reach High
Standard public school
1,334 students 10.7:1 students per teacher
Hammond High
Standard public school
1,159 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,197 students)
Frequently asked questions about Wilde Lake High
How many students attend Wilde Lake High?
Wilde Lake High has 1,197 students enrolled. It is a high school in Columbia, MD. CCD year-over-year: 1,341 (2022-23) → 1,270 (2023-24), down 71.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wilde Lake High?
The student-teacher ratio at Wilde Lake High is 12.2:1, which is 16% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 22% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Wilde Lake High?
41.5% of students at Wilde Lake High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wilde Lake High?
The largest demographic group at Wilde Lake High is African American at 44.8% of enrollment, in Columbia, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wilde Lake High?
Wilde Lake High has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Wilde Lake High rank among high schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Wilde Lake High ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Columbia, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Columbia on the city page.
What other schools are in Howard County Public Schools?
Besides Wilde Lake High, Howard County Public Schools also operates Marriotts Ridge High (1,741 students), Reservoir High (1,597 students), and Atholton High (1,540 students). See the Howard County Public Schools district page for the complete list.